Cordova Electric Cooperative

What Cordova Electric Cooperative does

Cordova Electric Cooperative (CEC) is a member-owned rural electric cooperative incorporated in 1978 and headquartered in Cordova, Alaska. It is the sole provider of electricity to the geographically isolated coastal community of Cordova, which is not connected to the state highway system or any other grid. CEC operates an integrated microgrid spanning 78 miles of 100% underground distribution served by three generating facilities: Humpback Creek hydroelectric (1.25 MW, 7 miles north), Power Creek hydroelectric (6.0 MW, 7 miles east), and the Orca diesel plant (10.8 MW). Total installed capacity is approximately 18 MW, of which 75-80% of annual generation is sourced from hydropower; the cooperative has stated a goal of reaching 95% hydro with planned Humpback Creek Storage and Crater Lake Projects. A Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) in full operation since 2020 provides grid-stabilization ("shock absorber") capability enabling greater integration of intermittent renewables.

CEC's revenue model is built on tiered monthly billing — customer charges plus per-kWh energy charges across Residential, General Service, Boat Harbor, Large Power, Seafood Processors, and Heat Pump rate classes — supplemented by capital credits retirements (over $2.9M since 2018) and equipment sales (e.g., meter-mounted surge protectors at $310 inclusive of installation). Customer-facing distribution channels include a self-service CEC ONLINE portal, a mobile application (iOS), business-office walk-in, and phone support. The cooperative has pursued substantial external funding — including $6.2M from the DOE for the RADIANCE Project (in partnership with Idaho National Laboratory, AVEC, and ACEP), $4.9M from the EPA, and $15.5M from the New ERA Grant — toward grid modernization, hydropower expansion, and the RADIANCE microgrid-resilience initiative. A March 2026 partnership with Greensparc extends the asset base into modular edge data-center hosting using surplus hydropower.

Name

Cordova Electric Cooperative

Legal name

Cordova Electric Cooperative, Inc.

Website

https://cordovaelectric.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1978

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Cordova Electric Cooperative is a member-owned rural electric cooperative and sole electricity provider to Cordova, Alaska, operating an isolated microgrid with 18 MW of generation (75-80% hydropower, diesel backup) serving 1,566 customers across 78 miles of underground distribution.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Electric Utility Services

NAICS

Electric Power Generation, Transmission and Distribution (2211), Electric Power Distribution (221122), Electric Power Transmission, Control, and Distribution (22112)

SIC

Electric Services (4911)

akta.pro primary industry

Electric Cooperatives (Rural/Member-Owned Utilities) (EUADABAC)

Keywords

• Rural electric cooperative
• Hydroelectric generation
• Electricity distribution
• Microgrid operations
• Renewable energy

Headquarters

HQ city

Cordova

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices6 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Infrastructure, Supply Chain, Personnel, Others

Revenue model

1. Electricity Sales: Monthly billing for electricity consumption based on kilowatt-hour usage across multiple rate classes including residential, commercial, seafood processors, and boat harbor customers. Revenue comprises energy charges and customer charges.
2. Capital Credits Program: Non-profit cooperative model where margins (profits) are allocated to customers as capital credits and reinvested in the cooperative. Board may retire capital credits and pay back customers when financial conditions allow.
3. Equipment Sales: Sale of utility equipment to members including meter-mounted surge protectors, in-panel energy monitors, and smart plugs at no markup

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Cordova Electric Cooperative (CEC) is a member-owned rural electric cooperative that generates electricity primarily through hydroelectric assets backed by diesel generation, and distributes power via a 100% underground distribution system to approximately 1,566 residential, commercial, and industrial customers in the remote community of Cordova, Alaska. CEC operates as the sole electric utility for the community and also delivers grid-modernization initiatives such as battery energy storage, demand-side programs, and member-facing digital services.

Product overview

Cordova Electric Cooperative is a member-owned rural electric utility providing electricity generation (predominantly hydroelectric with diesel backup), distribution, and related energy services to approximately 1,500 customers in Cordova, Alaska. The cooperative operates as a vertically integrated utility with two hydroelectric plants (Humpback Creek and Power Creek) and one diesel facility (Orca). The product portfolio centers on the core electricity service, complemented by customer-facing digital tools (CEC ONLINE Portal and mobile app), demand-side management programs (Heat Pump Incentive, EV Mini-Grant, Power Cost Equalization), and infrastructure modernization projects (RADIANCE Project, BESS, Humpback Creek/Crater Lake Hydro Projects). The cooperative's focus is on maximizing renewable hydropower generation, reducing diesel reliance, and providing reliable, affordable electricity through a 100% underground distribution system.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Residential Electric Service

Quantifiable outcome

• Power Creek Hydroelectric has saved approximately 19 million gallons of diesel fuel since 2002, approaching $40 million in cost savings to CEC customers
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and minor.

• GreensparcflagshipTechnology or Integration · 10 March 2026Partnership to install a modular 170-kilowatt data center inside the Humpback Creek hydroelectric facility, enabling the remote city of 2,600 residents to process and store data locally using surplus hydropower that was previously unused.
• Idaho National LaboratorycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLeading national laboratory partner in the RADIANCE Project for grid modernization and microgrid development
• Alaska Village Electric Cooperative (AVEC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-developer in RADIANCE Project, building advanced microgrids as part of the living laboratory for developing new technologies
• Alaska Center for Energy and Power (ACEP)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in RADIANCE Project bringing research and development capabilities for energy solutions
• City of CordovacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership on multiple projects including water infrastructure upgrades with Crater Lake Project, Second Street electrical line replacement, and data center opportunity
• Native Village of EyakminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in city-led efforts and infrastructure projects including Second Street upgrade funding
• Chugach Alaska Corporation and Eyak CorporationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership on renewable energy and infrastructure development initiatives
• Alaska Joint Electrical Apprenticeship & Training Trust (AJEATT)minorOthersCooperative apprenticeship program for Apprentice Lineman positions with Alaska electrical industry
• IBEW Local 1547coreOthersBargaining unit representing cooperative's employees; CEC has a great working relationship with the union

Scale indicators13 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Others

• National Rural Utilities Cooperative Finance Corporation (CFC): Cooperative financing institution serving rural electric cooperatives like CEC with lending and capital programs; relevant as a financial counterparty and ecosystem participant for small utility peers.
• CoBank: Cooperative bank that lends to rural utilities including CEC (partner in the Sharing Success Program) and other rural electric cooperatives across the U.S.

Direct peers

• Alaska Village Electric Cooperative (AVEC): Member-owned rural electric cooperative serving remote communities across Alaska with similar microgrid generation mix including diesel and renewables; explicitly co-develops the RADIANCE Project with CEC.
• Homer Electric Association: Member-owned electric cooperative on the Kenai Peninsula with similar service-area monopoly structure and renewable/diesel generation portfolio.
• Golden Valley Electric Association: Member-owned electric cooperative serving interior Alaska with a comparable mix of hydro and thermal generation and battery energy storage assets, addressing similar remote-grid reliability challenges.
• Matanuska Electric Association: Alaska member-owned electric cooperative operating generation, transmission, and distribution for a defined service territory with a similar cooperative business model.
• Tlingit-Haida Regional Electrical Authority (THREA): Alaska tribal/regional electric authority serving small remote communities with diesel and renewable generation, comparable in scale and isolation challenges to CEC.
• Chugach Electric Association: Largest member-owned electric cooperative in Alaska, serving Anchorage and surrounding areas; provides a scaled comparison point for CEC's cooperative model in the same state.
• Inside Passage Electric Cooperative: Small member-owned electric cooperative serving rural southeast Alaska communities with similar remote-microgrid operational profile to CEC.

Emerging players

• Greensparc: Partner deploying modular edge data centers inside remote hydro facilities; comparable as an emerging player monetizing stranded renewable capacity at remote microgrids like CEC's.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/CordovaElectric

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Cordova Electric Cooperative